Non-covalent interactions in coinage metal complexes of 1,2,4-triazole-based N-heterocyclic carbenes

Seven coinage metal(I) complexes bearing two different triazole-based N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands, [1-tert-butyl-4-{2-[(N,N-dimethylamino)methyl]phenyl}-3-phenyl-1H-1,2,4-triazol-4-ium-5-ide and 1-tert-butyl-4-(4-methylphenyl)-3-phenyl-1H-1,2,4-triazol-4-ium-5-ide], were synthesized and fully characterized in solution by NMR spectroscopy as well as in the solid state by X-ray diffraction techniques. Furthermore, the XRD analysis showed that the bidentate coordination of the amino group substituted NHC ligand, previously observed for rhodium and palladium complexes, does not take place in the solid state structure of Au(I) complexes with various halide ligands. Nevertheless, the formation of sets of two head-to-tail oriented monomers aggregated via a weak metallophilic contact was revealed for both NHC ligands as well as for all three coinage metals with different halides. These experimental data correlate quite well with the previously published theoretical study on related complexes.